Welcome to The Stash List, Pitcher Edition!
The Stash List will highlight the top-10 starting pitcher prospects who are most likely to make an impact this season.
Effective in-season management will propel your team into contention, and understanding the outlook and ETA for some of baseball’s top prospects will give you an advantage over your league mates. As managers, we are looking forward to reaping the rewards of our offseason research and draft strategies, but for most of us, the fun is only just beginning.
Previous Week’s Stash List: The Stash List, Pitcher Edition: Week 14
Ground Rules
- The Stash List is for your redraft leagues and does not consider impact beyond 2022
- Only current minor league players who are expected to make an impact this season are included
- Upside, proximity, health, and opportunity are all weighed for each player
- The focus is on 12-team leagues with standard categories
- Rankings and ownership percentages will be updated weekly
- Stats shown are through July 15 (generally, the most recent three appearances and season total)
Top 10 SP Prospects to Stash
1. Max Meyer, RHP, MIA – ETA July
Meyer has finally been called up to Miami and is scheduled to make his debut tonight (7/16). He earned the call after posting a 3.72 ERA over 58.0 innings with a 28.4% strikeout rate and 8.3% walk rate. Marlins fans have been clamoring to see Meyer and now they’ll get their chances. He’s a must-add across all redraft leagues.
just got a text from @JaxShrimp. pic.twitter.com/ZjSEDZJh2Z
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 15, 2022
2. DL Hall, LHP, BAL – ETA August
Hall is going to slide into the number one spot after Meyer’s promotion this week. Hall’s stuff is Major League ready and he’s on the verge of a call-up. The jury is still out, though, as to what Hall’s role will be with the Orioles when he does get called up. His inconsistency week-to-week might be hard for fantasy managers to stomach, but his upside is too high to ignore. It’s time to stash him in redraft leagues and avoid the rush when he’s promoted.
3. Cade Cavalli, RHP, WAS – ETA August
Cavalli is on a bit of a roll, having struck out 22 hitters and only walking four over his last 18.2 innings, including back-t0-back outings with no walks. Though, his most recent outing was shortened when he developed a blister and was removed from the game. The team has said the move was precautionary and doesn’t expect him to miss any time. Cavalli’s week-to-week injury scares are getting exhausting.
On the year, Cavalli has a 4.31 ERA, 25.4% strikeout rate, and 9.3% walk rate. The Nationals rotation is an abomination, so no one will stand in Cavalli’s way once he’s ready. Their plans are very uncertain, and there is no reason to rush him considering their fifth place spot in the NL East. Stashing Cavalli is highly speculative based on his upside.
4. Kyle Muller, LHP, ATL – ETA July
Muller has posted back-to-back walkless outings and appears ready-in-waiting for the next opportunity with the Braves. Their rotation has been performing extremely well, even Ian Anderson has posted respectable lines in his last couple of outings, despite a continued battle with command issues. Stash Muller due to his proximity, but it’s uncertain when another opportunity might present itself.
5. Hunter Brown, RHP, HOU – ETA July
Brown has had a memorable week, as he was named to the MLB Futures Game and added to Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects. Though he hasn’t pitched since July 6 and the Astros are heavily rumored to be in the market for starting pitching help ahead of the trade deadline. Brown’s name gets thrown around quite a bit, though it’s of course highly speculative.
He has mixed in relief appearances throughout the season as the Astros appears to be preparing him for a hybrid role upon his call-up. He’s a name to know right now, but he’s not on the 40-man roster, and there is no clear path to a rotation opportunity. Either way, it’s very likely we see Brown in Houston by the second half, just with a highly uncertain role and impact for fantasy.
6. Ken Waldichuk, LHP, NYY – ETA August
Waldichuk had a tough outing this week, working only two innings and allowing seven baserunners, four of which crossed the plate. Over his nine starts in Triple-A, Waldichuk has a 3.27 ERA, 36.6% strikeout rate, and 10.0% walk rate.
Waldichuk has a promising upside and is rising up prospect lists. He’s looking more like a name to know in the second half. He’s not worth stashing outside of the deepest redraft leagues right now.
7. Gavin Stone, RHP, LAD – ETA August
Stone continues to pile up strikeouts in Double-A, now having a 36.4% strikeout rate over 53.0 innings with a 1.89 ERA. You have to think a promotion to Triple-A is coming soon. He’s also making a strong case to be the Dodgers’ top pitching prospect.
The Dodgers have a lot of options on the 40-man roster that are ahead of Stone in the pecking order so he’s only worth stashing in the deepest of redraft formats due to his upside. If and when Stone does get called up, he’s definitely worth a speculative add across most redraft leagues.
8. Tommy Henry, LHP, ARI – ETA July
Henry bounced back against Tacoma this week, picking up 10 strikeouts over six innings with only one walk. On the year, Henry has a 3.83 ERA, 22.2% strikeout rate, and 10.4% walk rate.
His upside is relatively limited but the Diamondbacks could do much worse and they could at least see what they have with Henry by allowing him a chance. They are in fourth place in the NL West and playoff hopes are all but out the window at this point. Henry is not worth stashing in redraft leagues and even if he is promoted a wait-and-see approach might be best.
9. Peyton Battenfield, RHP, CLE – ETA August
Battenfield is coming off his best outing of the year, pitching eight scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, while striking out six. On the year, Battenfield has a 2.91 ERA, 16.5% strikeout rate, and 7.8% walk rate.
He’s looking like someone who could get a chance in Cleveland sometime in the second half. There are a ton of options that the Guardians could turn to first and Battenfield is not on the 40-man roster. He’s not worth stashing in any leagues right now but is a name to know for the second half.
No. 18 @CleGuardians prospect Peyton Battenfield twirled a career-high 8 scoreless frames while whiffing 6 for the @CLBClippers. pic.twitter.com/tmeRLNYOUQ
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) July 14, 2022
10. Taj Bradley, RHP, TBR – ETA August
Bradley is a rising star in the Rays organization and is someone that should be on your radar. Over 16 Double-A starts, he’s posted a 2.73 ERA, with a 30.9% strikeout rate, and a 6.3% walk rate. He’s clearly ready for a new challenge, and the Rays are rewarding him with a promotion to Triple-A in the second half.
Bradley is only 21 years old and not on the 40-man roster, but he has huge upside and could earn an opportunity down the stretch. The Rays will have a handful of workloads to manage in the latter part of the season, so it’s possible Bradley will receive an opportunity. He’s not worth stashing in any redraft leagues right now.
No. 2 @RaysBaseball prospect Taj Bradley collects seven strikeouts in another scoreless outing for @BiscuitBaseball: https://t.co/HlttQLXbr7 pic.twitter.com/ewg4wra43U
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 8, 2022
Because you’ll ask:
Roansy Contreras, RHP, PIT – He was demoted to Triple-A following his start last week. This move feels very much like its workload management considering the upcoming All-Star Break, not performance-based. He’s already up to 70.1 innings between two levels this year so to have him at full strength down the stretch the Pirates are likely opting to give him a breather now. Strongly recommend holding Contreras during this time.
Others considered (in no particular order):
Previously debuted, currently in minors: JP Sears (NYY – AAA), Caleb Kilian (CHC – AAA), Roansy Contreras (PIT-AAA), Brayan Bello (BOS-AAA), Ethan Small (MIL -AAA)
Yet to make their MLB debut: Mike Burrows (PIT – AAA), Hayden Wesneski (NYY – AAA), Ryne Nelson (ARI – AAA), Brandon Williamson (CIN – AAA), Cole Ragans (TEX – AAA), Logan T. Allen (CLE – AAA), Bobby Miller (LAD – AA), Gordon Graceffo (STL – AA), Jay Groome (BOS – AAA)
Photos by Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels, Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Drew Wheeler (@drewisokay on Twitter)